More roadtrippin'. This time: HOME

Yay! I finally got to go home! I miss my green trees and forest and ocean so much when I am in Utah. And, I miss being close to my parents. So, this trip was a much needed vacation. And, this time, I even got to leave my laptop in Logan and didn't have to work one little bit!

I drove up to Forks with Grams. She still refuses to fly. I guess those security checks are too much stress for her. So, I picked up some books on tape (I finally used my library card!) and headed off. It was a long drive, with me driving most of the way. However, I did finally convince Grams to take the drive in one day, which was nice.

We were in Forks for Bryce's farewell talk over Memorial Day weekend. So, Aunt Moose, Uncle Pat, Aunt Linda, and Uncle Scott also came up for the weekend.

While in Forks, we got to hike out to Shi Shi Beach, which is one of the best around for tide pools, and drive out to Cape Flattery, the most northwest point in the lower 48 states. Unfortunately, it was another cloudy day. But, truly, that didn't bother me, as I was just happy to be home and in the fresh air.

And, of course, I got to see my cat. I love her so. :) She will be 17 soon.

Grams and I stayed for about a week, and then I had to get back to work. The drive back took two days, however, which made for a long trip.

Summertime, Summertime, Summertime

I should probably get caught up on all my summertime adventures before I forget all the details. I'll try to keep it short, so you don't get bored. ;-)

First, I know my birthday is not in the summer, but, hey, I missed it on this blog. I turned 24 this year. Crazy. I just don't think that I feel that old, lol. I had a fun birthday, though. I got to have two parties and two cakes. I'm just that awesome. :)

In the beginning of June, I drove up to Forks with my grandma so that we could go to Bryce's graduation from Forks High. I went to the library before we left to pick up some books on tape to listen to in the car. It actually made the trip seem a lot faster, and since I drove most of the way, that's a good thing.

We stayed in Forks for a week and a half or so. It was beautiful weather while I was there. I got to visit my wonderful ocean. I got to see Pursey. I drug my family out to the Hoh Rainforest for an afternoon. We also discovered that there was an archery range in town. I actually really enjoyed myself, and I don't think that I did too bad. :)

I went back to Logan for about a week and then headed off on my next road trip. One of my good friends from Forks was getting married in Las Vegas, so I headed down there for a few days. It was my first trip to Vegas. I can't say that I was really impressed. It was interesting, lots of flashy lights, but lots and lots of people.

It was also very hot down there. I think that I saw one store thermometer that read 120 degrees. Seriously!? That's way to stinking hot for me to handle. And, we were genius enough to decide to walk the strip during the day in that heat. We basically walked from place to place, hanging out in each building for awhile before heading back outside. Next time I go to Vegas, it will be in the winter, lol.

My friend had a bachelorette party a couple days before the wedding. I think I expected a Vegas bachelorette party to be, well, a little more extreme. But, it was really pretty tame, and therefore pretty fun for me. The wedding was also a good time. It was the actually the first one that I've ever been to. It was small, out in a little gazebo behind the casino. It was nice to see all of my Forks friends again, too.

It was then another week back in Logan, some fireworks and holiday things, and then I was off on another road trip. The Johnson Family Reunion was in Clayton, Idaho this summer. It's always a good time being with the family. We did some crafts, played some games, watched some movies, visited an old mining town, and slept in a loft with lots of loud children. Oh, that last part was the most enjoyable. ;-) I actually really enjoy family reunions, and it was good to see everyone again.

Kelsie and Mom also came back to Logan with me after the reunion. We went to Bear Lake, a Pickleville play, did some tubing. I think Mom wanted to spend some time with her parents and in Logan, and it was a fun couple weeks for me, too.

So, my summer was pretty busy, which is how I prefer it to be. Fun times. :)

I'll be home for Christmas

This post is a little late, I know, but at least I remembered that I did have a blog. :) Although, now that I found that episodes of I Dream of Jeannie, one of my all time favorite shows, are on hulu I am being severely distracted...so, I hope this all makes since, lol.

Here's my Christmas card for the year. I was just too lazy apparently to send it out earlier.

For Christmas this year, I was able to go home (YAY!) for almost two weeks...that was really not long enough for me either.

I did have to work some while I was home, but it was fabulous to be there. I got to play with my bro and sis, see my kitty, and hang out with my family. Landon got to call home on Christmas morning. It was good to hear from him, and he seems to be doing well. We even ate a big pancake breakfast before we opened presents. It was nice to sleep in...that never happened when all of us kids were younger.

While I was home, we all went to Ocean Shores to watch Bryce play in a basketball tournament. He made a few good shots, but he didn't get to play as much as we "i.e. the Grandparents" wanted him to. ;) A few weeks ago, though, Bryce scored 22 points and played most of a game, so...maybe his coach is just finicky.

Forks itself doesn't change much. At least in the winter. The Twilight phenomenon seems to die down for awhile. It rained a lot, which I have missed, and we had a few good hail storms. We also took some family pictures while I was home. I thought that we should have put a cardboard cut out of Landon in, but oh well, he will be home next Christmas. :)

Anyways, it was nice to see the beach and play and be with my family. I love being home.

I was really rather sad to come back to Logan after the New Years.

Oh, if every day were such as these!

Yes, I am going to have to play just a little bit of catch up here...but, it's only a few weeks back so this shouldn't be too long of a post.

In the end of July, Kelsie came to Logan (I like to say that she came here just to see me) to go to her first EFY with our cousin Sierra. I think she enjoyed herself, but you'll have to ask her for more details about that.

But, when it came time to take Kelsie to the airport to fly home, I decided to go home, too. I really needed the break from Logan, to get out and be somewhere else. Mostly, I think that I was a little homesick, and I wanted to see my family. Being a thousand miles away is really, really hard sometimes.

So, I flew to Seattle with Kelsie, and I got to stay there for a little over a week. It was a fabulous. And, I have to note the perk of my job. I didn't even have to tell my boss I was leaving....I can work from anywhere.

While I was home, mostly I just relaxed and hung out with my family. It was just what I needed. We went on a little "hike" to a hill overlooking Forks.

Bryce, Mom, and I went out to Rialto beach, so that I could see my ocean. We ate some lunch at Three Rivers, which I always love. I was, however, a little disappointed that they had expanded their serving area to include a Twilight-themed nook. Oh well, such is Forks these days. I suppose I am going to have to get over my thorough dislike of Twilight and learn to put up with it.

The three of us also hiked out to Norwegian Memorial Beach the next day. This has always been one of my favorite beaches. It is kind of a local-only beach, as you have travel a maze of logging roads to get out there and then hike out through the forest. It was a great day to be on the beach, hardly any wind and the sun soon came out. It was a plus that we only saw a few other people. No overcrowding like at Rialto, Second Beach, and La Push these days.

I love the green forests and the tide pools of the coast.

We also climbed up over the headland rocks and got a fantastic view of the area.

 

While home, I also got to see the destruction that had run rampant in my backyard. Someone had decided that it was time to log there, and just in the little strip behind the house... Rude! Anyways, most of my childhood playground is still there, although it was sad to see that my animal cemetary had disappeared. No real worries, though... there is still a lot of gorgeous forest back there.

Importantly, I also got to see my cat. :-D

Now, I am awaiting Christmas when I go home to visit again.